Mlle. Caro, Paris, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

This photograph of Mlle. Caro from Paris, was produced by Goodwin & Company as part of a series of collectible cards for Old Judge Cigarettes. It’s a humble object, made from thin card stock, printed with a photographic image. The production of these cards was deeply entwined with the rise of mass media and consumer culture. The company capitalized on popular fascination with actresses, using them to market cigarettes. This connects to larger systems of labor and value. The actresses themselves, the factory workers who assembled the cards, even the tobacco farmers, were all part of a chain of production. The company exploited their labor to create a desirable commodity. These cards weren’t meant to be high art. Their value lies in what they reveal about the social and economic forces at play in the late 19th century. They remind us that even the most ephemeral objects can offer insights into the ways we produce, consume, and create meaning.